Gyroscopic compass for ships.



H. 0. FORD 61 H. LLIANNER.

. evnoscomc COMPASS FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2], 1916v Patented July 23, 1918.

INVtNTORS HANNIBAL C. For?!) .mo

HARRY L TANNER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

fiAiNNIBAL C. FORD, CF JAMAICA, AND HARRY L. TANNER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS 'IO SPERRY GYROSCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORJ Specification of Letters Patent.

GYROSCOPIC COMPASS FOR SHIPS.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Continuation of application Serial No. 823.269. filed March 7, 1914. This application filed June 27, 1916.

Serial No. 106,121.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HANNmai. (ll. Fonn' and IIARRY L. T.\NN1-:1: .eiti7,ens of the United States, residing at Jamaica, L. 1., and Brooklyn, New York, respectively, in the counties of Queens and Kings, respectively, and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroscopie Compasses for Ships. of which the following is av specification.

This invention relates to gv'roseopic conipasses and has for its object to provide a simple. practical gyro-('(nnpass of large directive power especially suited for the navigation of ships or similar moving vehicles.

Furthermore, this invention consists in. safe-guarding the operation of the gyrocompass against disturbances such as oscillations, acceleration pressures, motions, etc. received from the ship, by providing such compass with suitalllealainping. ballistic-and correction factors.

The general problems which are overcome by this invention and the hroml principles of operation of this invention are fully set forth in our eopeiuling application for improvements in f \'lns(upie compasses and the method of controlling the same. Sorial No. 823.260. tiled hlarch Tth. li ll. of which the present application is a continuation, containing for the most part in..tler divided from said application.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters denote lil e parts throughout. Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in section of a L' \'rocompass eonstrueteil according to this invention. Fig. 32 is a side elevati n thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the da h pot. which con nects two porlion ol' the hail. Fig. l is an enlarged sillo ehuuhon partly in section of the compas casino and the bail. showing ll] tlelail the sup orting means for the parts. Fig, :1 is a, set-lion on line 3' .7 of Fig. l. l ifl. I3 is an enlarged detail. being a section lahen on line ll t. Fig. l. Fig.1 is a cone :"p-nnling view to Fig. 3 of a lnollilied form of roupling explained in our aforesaid application, one. of the main objects of this invention is to'oliminate deviations of the compass llllG to rollin, and pitching of the ship without,

providing a cumbersome stabilizing nil-ans for all parts of the compass. According to this invention, this idea is applied to a compass supported on a mercury float. .The compass is shown as supported in the usual gimhal rings 1 and :2: the ring 2 serving to support the member 3 within which is mounted the receptacle 4 for the mercury 5. A. circular float U is supported by the mercur 5 and carries the entire azimuth movable unit. This comprises the compass card 7 shown as supported hy means of brackets 8 from the float and brackets 9 which support the central stem 10. The said stem is attached adjacent its lower end to an open frame ii and. is journaled adjacent its top 12 within a spider'lS attached to support 3. The frame work 11 is journaled near its base in an outer frame 14 also attached to frame 3 so that lateral oscillations of the compass within the mercury are prevented. The float (3 also shown as carrying suitable annular rings 15 of mercury in which lingers 16 dip, whereby current is let into the gyroscope. The open frame work 11 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending arms 17 in which the rotor bearing casing 18 is journaled on horizontal pivots 19, 20. The pivots are preferably positioned at. or near, the center of gravity of the casing, and a pendulum relied upon to impart more or less ballistic properties thereto and to form a yielding connection between the casing and frame 11. The entire frame 11, together with all supported parts, is, of course, pendulously suspended from float lit,he Whole compass having its center of gravity below the pivots of the gimhal rings 1 and 2. Said pendulum 30 is preferably so constructed as to have freedom of movement with respect to the casing about or in the east-West plane,

that is. in the plane of the rotor, and is so designed as to have a very long period of oscillation in this plane. Il is well known that a single gyroscope will stabilize itself in all planes except in the plane of the rotor or parallel thereto, so that an unstabilized gyro-compass is free to oscillate in the eastwest plane. As explained in our aforesaid application. we do not attempt to stabilize the entire gyroscope. but merely stabilize the point of application of the ballistic to the \'|'osropt For this purpose we prefer lo universally supp "t the pendulum so that it may oscillate in both planes. A horizontal ring 21 is pivoted within frame 11 on pivots 22, 22 and the pendulum 1s plvotally suspended from said ring on pivots 24, 25 placed at right angles to nvots 22, 22'. For increasing the period 0 the pendulum in the east-west plane compensatlng weights 26, 26 are shown secured to rin 21 above axis 22, 22 so that about said axis the pendulum is converted into a compound pendulum.

" For this purpose we also prefer to provide a stabilizing gyroscope 27, mounted within the pendulum in such a manner as to oppose such oscillations. A convenient mounting is shown in the figures 1n wh1ch the gyroscope is supported on a horizontal spinning axis 28 for freedom about a vertical axis 29 within the frame 34.

For reasons hereinafter explained we prefer to construct the pendulum in two parts of 30 and 31, the inner part 31 being pivote'd at 32 to the outer part. The inner part lies, in the main, between the two flanges 33, 33, on the rotor casing 18. The said part 31 supports the frame 34 for the gyroscope 27. For centralizing the gyroscope within the pendulum a small tension spring 35 may be provided. The connection between the pendulum and. the rotor casing comprises a roller 36 or other antifriction means, c0nnected preferably to the vertical shaft 37 supporting the gyro casing and rolling be tween the two flanges 33 and 33 on the gyro casing. (See Fig. 6). For dam ing this form of compass, we prefer to crop oy means operating directly about the horizontal axes.

A yielding motion resisting connection between the pendulum or a portion thereof and the gyro casing is employed for this purpose, this connection preferably being placed between the auxiliary pendulum 31 above described and pendulum 30. More specifipally the two pendulums are connected by means of a yielding dashpot :10, which is so constructed. as to allow only extremely slow movement, even under heavy pressure. lllnder these conditions it will be seen that the two parts of the pendulum act as a unit for all short oscillations. If the oscillations have extremely long periods it will allow the pendulums to move with reference to one another, constituting an effective means-for damping long period oscillations by eoplying forces directly about the horizontal supporting axis 19, 20 of the casing 18. This dash pot is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, and consists of a casing 41 secured to the outer pendulum 30 and designed to hold oil or like substance Within which is submerged a double piston 42. Each end of the piston is preferably hollow, as shown at 13, 44: so that the specific gravity of the piston is unit with reference to the submerging oil.

slotted stem 45 which engages over the pin energy of the compass during oscillations.

46 on the piston serves to connect the piston with the auxiliary pendulum 31.

The Weights 26, 26' also serve to equalize the moments ofjnertia of the suspended portions of the apparatus about the two principal horizontal axes. To secure efficiency in a gyro wheel it is advisable to design it so that it has considerably greater dimensions diametrically than axially. It is also found necessary to make the inolosing casing conform more or less closely to the proportions of the rotor, both in order to dissipate the heat properly and to avoid unnecessary Weight. Other parts, including the bail 30, are necessarily proportioned accordingly. B the laws of mechanics, if such an unba anced body is suspended and oscillated like a pendulum in any plane but a plane parallel to its principal axis, a torque will be exerted on the body tending to turn it into such a plane, and causing it to oscillate until it comes to rest in the plane. Asapplied to a compass, it will at once be seen that such an effect is very undesirable, since it would cause serious deviations if the compass were oscillated about the Cardan supports in any plane but the plane of the rotor. .WVeights 2G, 26 positioned beyond the general out lines of the disk-shaped casing 12, furnish a ready means of overcoming this defect by equalizing the moments about both horiz0ntal axes.

Fig. 7 shows a slightly modified form of connection between the pendulum and the casing which consists merely in replacing 100 the single roller 36 b a couple of small steel balls, 38, 39, winch roll between the flanges 33, 33' on the casing and recesses in the walls of pendulum 31.

From the above description, it willbe evi- 05 dent that we have devised a simple but effective means for preventing deviations of a gyroscopic compass due to rollin in intercardinal planes by preventing oscl lations of short duration of the ballistic pendulum in 1 the plane of the rotor. By employing the weights 26, 26' in the manner specified and by use of the stabilizing gyroscope 27, we are enabled to give the pendulum a very long period in the plane ofthe rotor and at the 115 same time retain its full ballistic properties about axis 24, 25. The damping action of the dashpot will be readily apparent, as it furnishes an efiective means for absorbing the In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, We have herein described the principle of operation of our invention, to-

gether with the apparatus, whichyve now consider to represent the hestaembodiment thereof, but we desire to have'it understood that the apparatus shownis only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in 1 0 the combination and relations described,

some of these may be altered and others omitted Without interfering with the more general results outlined and the invention extends to such use.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure o Letters Patent. is:

1.1a a grvro'eompasa, a rotor luutdlg 10 frame, moam for molmting said frame so as to be free about the vertical axis and for onrillatiou about a horizontal axis, a pendulum mounted ilnh'pemlenl'ly of said frame, an auxiliary {{Yruwt'opt! rounected to said pew dulum, and a coupling between said pendulum and said frame.

in a gyro-rompa, a rotor hearing frame, means for mounting said flillllL so as to be free about the vertieal axia and for oseillation about a horizontal axis, a peudu lum mounted imlepeudeutly of said frame, an auxiliary gyroarope rnlllieoled to said pendulum. and a mupliug between said pendulum and said frame. said gyroscope serving: to maintain said coupling in a predetermined relation to a vertieal plane through a pred teriuined point on the Frame.

3. In a ,l'Xl'U-xllllllJZlbF, a HHiYliiadlljf yup ported, pemlulous support. a. rotor hearing member pirot'ally supported on rtllltl sup port and a yielding. motion resisting. eon neetion between :eaid support and altlll mem ber.

--l. In a. gyro-man la, a univmsaltv mp- -porlod. peudulous supp rt. a rotor hearing; memher pivoially supported on :aaid wpport and a ouIn-etion hetueeo a'aid -upport and said member \Yllll'll yields: to persistent; W08 SHI'CF, butis reaiath e rigid Against peeSS'uNS or ooeillationfi ot s-hortclumiion thereon on a horizontal axi oi an angle to the j)lliltlll L' axie ol' the zoiol a uuiveiviailx Euppoited pendulum and roupiiu g' lleln'eeu said pendulum and easing.

6. In a gxu'o-ronipass, a support. a. rotor and rotor hearing easing pivotaltv mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning axis of the rotor, a. universally supported pendulum and a coupling between said pendulum and easing. whirl) allows in.-

dependent oseillation of said parts in planes parallel to the rotor. 7. In a gyro-compass, a support, a rotor and rotor bearing easing pivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the bpinning axis of the rotor, a universally supported pendulum, a coupling between said pendulum omit-using. w iich allows independent, oscillation of said arts in planes parallel to the rotor and an auxiliary gyroscope for stabilizine said planes.

651 r; 8. In a gyro-compass, a support, a rotor pendulum 1n. such and rotor hearing easing oivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning axis of the rotor, a universally supported pendulum, a coupling between said pendulum and easing, which allows independent oerillation of said parts in planes parallel lo the rolor and means for increaslug; the period of the pendulum in such planes.

I). in a onorolnpa, a support. a rotor and rotor hearing raving: pivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning axis of the rotor. a universally supporled pendulum for imparting more or loan liallistir properties to the casing, about; its pivotal axis, and means for increasing the period of the pendulum about the other horizontal axis.

10. In a gyrowompiiss, a support, a rotor and rot or bearing using pivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning: axis of the rotor, a universally supported pendulum for imparting more or lens ballistic properliea to the easing, about. ite pivotal axi and means for int-reusing the period of the pendulum ahout the other horizontal axis eomprising a counter-halaueiu,; mans.

ll. lo a gyrorompaea, a support, a rotor and ro or nearing waning pivolally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning axis oi the rotor, a universally eupported pendulum 'l'or impartingmore or lie-s mural.- properties to the easing, about; it pivotal axis. and means for int-reusing the period ol the pendulum about. the other horizontal axis romprisiugz a (UllLllUl'dRllilllC' io z um and an auxiliary gyroscope con howled 'llltlrWllll.

3;. la a f \'l'll-tfltlllltlla support, a rotor and rotor hearing ruhing pivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at; an angle to the spinning u. ;i\ of the rotor, a universally r-Jlppurlml pendulum for imparting more or ose lulllisiir propel-lieu to the easing. about its pivotal axis, and means for inereasing the period of the pendulum about the other horizontal axis eomprieingan auxiliary gyroscope couneeted therewith. i

13. vIn a gyro-rompass, a support, a rotor and a rotor bearing easing pivotally mounted thereon on a horizontal axis at an angle to the spinning axis of the rotor, a pendulum universally pivoted thereto and a coupling between said pendulum and easing, said eou- 12d pliiig containing a damping means.

14. In a damping device for slowl oscillating messes, the combination with a. principal oscillatory mass, of an auxiliary oscillatory mass and connections between said masses including a, motion resisting medium. i i

15. In a damping device for slon'lynsoillating masses, the combination with a' principaLoseillatory mass, of an auxiliary oted thereto about a oscillatory mass having a different natural period, and connections between said masses including a motion resisting medium.

16. In a damping device for slowly oscillating masses, the coi'nbination with a principal oscillatory mass, of an auxiliary oscillatory mass having a shorter natural period, and connectionsbetween said masses lneludin'g a motion resisting medium.

17. In a. o-compass, a rotocbearing frame, or mounting said frame so to be free to turn about the vertical axis and for oscillation about a horizontal axis, and means actin directly about said horizontal axis for amping the oscillations of the frame about the said vertical axis.

18. In a gyro-compass, a frame pivotally mounted about vertical axis, a rotor hear ing easing pivotally mounted thereon about a horizontal axis, a pendulous device pivhorizontal axis, and a connection between said device and said easing containing a yielding, motion resisting member.

19. In agyro-compass, a frame pivotally mounted about a vertical axis, a rotor'bcaring casing pivotally mounted thereon about a horizontal axis, apendulous device pivoted thereto about substantially the same axis, a liquid receptacle carried by said pendulum, and a vane or plunger movable within said receptacle and connected. with said casing so to be moved by its oscillations.

20. In a gyroscopic apparatus, a rotor adapted 'to spin upon an axis, and having less dimensions axially than diametrically, a frame or case for said rotor conforming in its general proportions to said rotor, means for supporting said frame so as to have an axis of oscillation at an angle to said spinning axis, and a mass located beyond the general outlines of said case in the axial direction and supported by said frame supporting means.

21. In a gyro-compass, for three degrees of freedom,

a gyro organized a pendulum mounted for oscillation independent of the gyro, and a dash pot for dumping out oscillations, connecting said pendulum and gyro, including a piston having a specific gravity of substantially unity referred to the liquid in which piston is submerged.

22. In a gyro-compass, a. gyro organized for three degrees of freedom, a pendulum mounted for oscillations independent of the gyro, and a dash pot for damping out oscillations connecting said pendulum and gyro organized for horizontal movement including a piston having a specific gravityof substantially unity referred to the liquid in which piston is submerged. In a gyro compass, a support mounted for orientation, a rotor bearing frame mounted thereon for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a pendulum also mounted on said support for oscillation about both horizontal axes, and a floating connection between said pendulum and frame.

24. In a gyro compass, a support mounted for orientation, a rotor bearing frame mounted thereon for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a pendulum also mounted on said support for oscillation about both horizontal axes, a gyroscope connected thereto to increase the period thereof about one of said axes, and a floating connection between said pendulum and frame.

25 In a gyro compass, a support mounted for orientation, a rotor bearing frame mounted thereon for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of penduhnns also mounted on said support for oscillation about both horizontal axes, one of said pendulums being directly connected to said frame, and a yielding, motion resisting connection between said pendulum and the other pendulum.

In testimony whereof, we hereby afiix our signatures.

HANN'IBAL Ci FORD- HARRY Ia; TANNER. 

